Composition floor strip



of Ohio, -ful Improvementsin a Composition Floor Strip,

`face and also enable relatively long strips Pate-area ree. e, ieee.

y NETE@ STATES PATENT @FFTCE SMIUEL G. RIG-DON, 01E' AKRON,- OHXO.

COMPOSITION FLOOR STRIP.

Application filed May 10,

To all-whom t may concern.:

Be it known thatvI, SAMUEL G. RIGDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State have invented certain new and useof which the following is a specification. l

The present invention comprises a floor strip composedV of rubber or of rubber and comminuted fibre and reentorced in a particular way to promote its life and durability and to assure `a permanent flat surstand heavy wear and weights and with spring properties adapted to always return it to its original fiat state when the weight or pressure is removed. The formation of the strip is also such that it may be matched with corresponding strips and nailed to the Hoor in the same way as in ordinary wooden iooring, and the woven wire braid forming the base of the strip permits the use of nails, screws, etc. and assures the attachment of the strip bythe nails and also prevents the strip vfrom stretching and buckling or becomingdistorted in use and serves to hold the floor strip its entire length flat upon the floor and to keep its shape regardless of differences in temperature where situated, such differences for example as caused by heating pipes Alaid beneath the In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a piece of my improved flooring with one end broken away and showing the woven wire braid in full line. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 2, of Fig.` l, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a iioor strip with end views of two matching 'strips engaged therewith.

The invention comprises a flat body or strip 2 of any desired width and length having a thickness of approximately threeeighths of an inch and preferably provided at its opposite longitudinal edges with a rabbeted tongue 3 and groove 4 respectively so that corresponding strips may be matched and iterlocked with each other. Body 2 is 1921. Serial No. L)5655,232.

composed of a suitable rubber compound, preferably rubber stock-with which commmuted fibre has been thoroughly mixed to produce an exceptionally tough and durable material having flexible and cushioning properties when vulcanized under pressure and heat within a mold adapted to form a solid strip of substantial length. The strips may be width for flooring is Itwo and one-half inches. In mixing the rubber and comminuted fibre together suitable substances, such as red iron oxide, may be used to color the material uniformly throughout its thickness.

The strip is furthermore provided at its bottom side with a woven wire braid 5 which is embedded and incorporated within the composition material during the process oi" molding and vulcanizing. the strip, the woven wire within the bottom of the tic material placed upon when In making braid may be laid mold and the plasthe braid so that flow into the open spaces between the cross wires and completely embed the wires within the bottom side of the strip below the horizontal median line of the strip, thereby k leaving the major thickness of the strip composed of rubber and fibre so that asubstantial wearing and cushioning layer of material is provided in the strip above the plane ofthe wire braid, and the inlay of wire mesh provides a stiff and stable base possessing flexible spring qualities. The woven wn'e braid 5 extends the full .width "and length of the strip, and the longitudinal side edges of the braid are formed by interlacing the wires successively by loops or bends 6 which make the edges of the braid comparatively stiffer than the central or ntermediate woven portion of the braid and non-tearable, and the braid are round and smooth and without .sharp projecting portions or ends, and the interlacing'of the wires at the edges provide elongated mterstices or spaces 7 through which the nails may be driven 1n fastening 105 made in any length, and a practical 65 pressure is brought to bear upon the 80 Vsectional molds, the plastic material will border edges of the laid'on top to provide a 110 strips in this manner the more elastic and comminuted ibersand a rubber compound \hav1ng a strlp of W1re mesh fabric incorpO- rated and extending longitudinally therein.

2. A composition floor strip, comprising comminuted fiber and rubber molded and\ vulcanized and embodying a braid of Wire extending longitudinally within the base thereof.

3. A composition floor strip, consisting of comminuted fiber and rubber having a base composed of wire strands extending.

obliquely in crossing relations longitudinally of said strip.

4. A flooring strip composed of a composition of rubber 'and fiber having a braid of Woven Wire with interlaced longitudinal edges incorporated within one side thereof and provided opposite said longitudinal edges with a rabbeted tongue and groove, respectively. 1

5. A looring strip comprising vulcanized saA rubber and a 'Woven Wire braid vulcanized u together and provided at its opposite longitudinal edges with a tongue and groove, respectively.

.Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, this 16th day of March, 1921. A l

SAMUEL Gr. RIGDON. 

